2of 3SEATTLE, WA - AUGUST 09: Quarterback Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts heads off the field after the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on August 9, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. The Colts beat the Seahawks 19-17. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)Photo: Otto Greule Jr / Getty Images

Andrew Luck had a thirst for contact when he played at Stanford. Aside from being one of the most NFL-ready passers scouts had witnessed in recent years, he wasn’t looking to slide to the ground or get out of bounds when he set out to run. If he could trample somebody in his way, the game would be especially satisfying.

We haven’t seen that quarterback in quite some time. When Luck took the field for the Colts’ exhibition opener against Seattle on Thursday night, it was his first game action in 19 months. And he looked delightfully familiar.

His surgically repaired right shoulder finally healthy, Luck delivered the ball with authority over two drives. But the most encouraging episode came when Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner issued a direct hit on that right shoulder, sending Luck crashing to the turf — and then springing back to his feet, bellowing in triumph. No pain, no problem, and what a relief.

For Luck, who had given serious thoughts to an injury-forced retirement, “I didn’t know if I’d have this much fun again practicing and playing football,” he said after the game.

More from Bruce Jenkins

It’s a blessing for everyone who enjoys good quarterbacking, and when you consider some of the story lines about to develop — the Derek Carr-Jon Gruden relationship, Jimmy Garoppolo twice dueling the Rams’ Jared Goff, Deshaun Watson’s return from knee surgery, Carson Wentz’s return to the Eagles, and the progress of rookies Josh Rosen, Sam Darnold, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield — it’s looking like an especially fun season in that regard.

It’s all about the ’pen

Following up on this column’s Thursday commentary on pitch counts, a question: Pitchers suffer more debilitating arm injuries these days than ever before. Teenagers practically look forward to Tommy John surgery so they can just get it out of the way. Nobody has answers, and even the most meticulously protected pitchers aren’t safe. Why wouldn’t teams think about an approach that worked splendidly for more than a half-century: four-man rotations and an emphasis on finishing games, instead of starters bailing out in the middle innings? The greatest of them all, Sandy Koufax, is held up as a victim of overwork, his career ending too soon, but legendary announcer Vin Scully finds that laughable. Scully reckons that Koufax threw more than 200 pitches to win the Dodgers’ last game in 1961. He went on to compile three seasons of 300-plus innings, three with at least 20 complete games and three with at least 300 strikeouts — and he led the National League in ERA in each of the five ensuing seasons, often throwing well over 120 pitches in a game. ... It all seems like fantasy today, especially in light of an American League race no one saw coming: The A’s challenging the Yankees for the top wild-card spot. “Bullpenning” is all the rage, especially among teams with shaky rotations, and these two teams define the trend. The A’s have built a tremendously formidable bullpen with Blake Treinen, Lou Trivino, Jeurys Familia, Fernando Rodney, Yusmeiro Petit and Shawn Kelley. (You half-expect Darold Knowles to come out of retirement.) The Yanks counter with Aroldis Chapman, Zach Britton, Chad Green, David Robertson and Dellin Betances. How cool that the Yanks come to Oakland for a three-game series Sept. 3-5. ... The Giants need all the help they can get, and the schedule looks kind. Over the season’s last five weeks, they have every Thursday off. ... When analytics go terribly wrong, part 118: About a month into the season, research indicated that players in their mid-30s weren’t catching up to fastballs in the upper 90s. One report actually stated, “30 is the big round number that generally marks the point of no return for a player’s reduction.” Right. Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Rod Carew and about a thousand other good hitters would be amused to hear that. In truth, the season’s first month was one of the coldest on record — and, naturally, the better 30ish hitters are getting around just fine in the heat.

If you aren’t aware of it by now, Stephen Curry has become an accomplished golfer in his spare time. Is there a better all-around athlete in the country? Every time you see Curry venture into new worlds, he looks like a natural. Dream scenario: Gather the best athletes from all sport for a week-long competition featuring batting practice, throws from right field, basketball shooting, soccer shots on goal, a set of tennis, a round of golf, passing the football, catching bullets from a rocket-armed quarterback, maybe even a decathlon. I wouldn’t bet against the Warriors’ superstar. ... When progress meets regret: Hayward Field, on the University of Oregon campus, is the most historic track stadium in the country, routinely used for the biggest events. A number of athletes speak of Hayward’s track in mythical terms, as if it holds some sort of magic. But with its fervent desire to host the 2021 World Outdoor Championships, the university recently demolished the 99-year-old facility. It’s simply gone, making way for a radically different-looking stadium with the requisite capacity (30,000) to host the Worlds. It was recently announced that the 2020 Olympic trials will be held there, as well. In the name of Steve Prefontaine, and so many others, we lament the passing of history.

Bruce Jenkins has written for the San Francisco Chronicle since 1973 and has been a sports columnist since 1989. He has covered 27 World Series, 19 Wimbledons and many other major events, including the Super Bowl, World Cup soccer, NBA Finals, four major golf tournaments and U.S. Open tennis championships.

He graduated from Santa Monica High School in 1966 and UC Berkeley with a B.A. in journalistic studies in 1971.